Evergreen ornamental plant of the Theaceae family, native from Eastern Asia, its origin is still controversial, being considered by some as species indigenous from Japonia and, by others, from China. It was introduced into Europe by the Portuguese in 1542 and soon spread to Spain, England, France and Italy; into United States at the beginning of the 18th century, and in Australia during the mid 19th century.

Genus was created by Portuguese botanist João de Loureiro (1717-1791) in the 1790 Flora Cochinchinensis for Campsis grandiflora. Linne named species with TECOM radicans and Thunberg gave the name of Bignonia radicans.